IP Library Granted Patent US 11,386,908
Granted Patent B2
US 11,386,908 · App. 16/182,321 · Granted Jul 12, 2022

Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermarking and watermark detection and extraction

Inventors: Venugopal Srinivasan (Palm Harbor, FL); Alexander Pavlovich Topchy (New Port Richey, FL)
Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
G10L19/018G10L19/0208G10L19/173G11B20/10H04H20/31H04H60/37H04H60/58
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,386,908
App. No.
16/182,321
Granted
Jul 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to audio watermarking and watermark detection and extraction are disclosed herein. Example methods disclosed herein include determining a first watermark symbol encoded in encoded audio samples and storing the first watermark symbol in tangible memory. Disclosed example methods also include determining a second watermark symbol encoded in the encoded audio samples and storing the second watermark symbol in the tangible memory. Disclosed example methods further include, in response to determining that the first watermark symbol matches the second watermark symbol, outputting the first watermark symbol.

Claims (42)

1. An apparatus to transform media into a message, the apparatus comprising:

a max score selector to:

decode a first watermark symbol from a plurality of audio samples;

store the first decoded watermark symbol in tangible memory;

decode a second watermark symbol from the plurality of audio samples; and

store the second decoded watermark symbol in the tangible memory; and

a validator to:

determine that a first condition is satisfied when the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol;

determine that a second condition is satisfied when a number of audio samples between a first one of the plurality of audio samples associated with a start of the first decoded watermark symbol and a second one of the plurality of audio samples associated with a start of the second decoded watermark symbol corresponds to a time duration that is a multiple of a period corresponding to a watermark symbol encoding repetition rate; and

output the first decoded watermark symbol in response to a determination that the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first decoded watermark symbol and the second decoded watermark symbol are stored in a stack in the tangible memory.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the validator is further to pop the first decoded watermark symbol from the stack in response to determining that the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first decoded watermark symbol is from a first set of the plurality of audio samples starting with the first one of the plurality of audio samples and the second decoded watermark symbol is from a second set of the plurality of audio samples starting with the second one of the plurality of audio samples different from the first one of the audio samples.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein the validator is further to calculate the number of audio samples between the first one of the plurality of audio samples and the second one of the plurality of audio samples.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the validator is further to validate the first decoded watermark symbol and the second decoded watermark symbol in response to determining that the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol.

7. The apparatus is defined in claim 1 , wherein the max score selector is to extract the first decoded watermark symbol by receiving scores indicating a likelihood of encoding for two or more possible watermark symbols and selecting a highest watermark scoring symbol.

8. A computer readable storage disk or storage device comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

decode a first watermark symbol from a plurality of audio samples;

store the first decoded watermark symbol in tangible memory;

decode a second watermark symbol from the plurality of audio samples;

store the second decoded watermark symbol in the tangible memory;

determine that a first condition is satisfied when the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol;

determine that a second condition is satisfied when a number of audio samples between a first one of the plurality of audio samples associated with a start of the first decoded watermark symbol and a second one of the plurality of audio samples associated with a start of the second decoded watermark symbol corresponds to a time duration that is a multiple of a period corresponding to a watermark symbol encoding repetition rate; and

output the first decoded watermark symbol in response to a determination that the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.

9. The computer readable storage disk or storage device as defined in claim 8 , wherein the first decoded watermark symbol and the second decoded watermark symbol are stored in a stack in the tangible memory.

10. The computer readable storage disk or storage device as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to pop the first decoded watermark symbol from the stack in response to determining that the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol.

11. The computer readable storage disk or storage device as defined in claim 8 , wherein the first decoded watermark symbol is from a first set of the plurality of audio samples starting with the first one of the plurality of audio samples and the second decoded watermark symbol is from a second set of the plurality of audio samples starting with the second one of the plurality of audio samples different from the first one of the plurality of audio samples.

12. The computer readable storage disk or storage device as defined in claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to calculate the number of audio samples between the first one of the plurality of audio samples and the second one of the plurality of audio samples.

13. The computer readable storage disk or storage device as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to validate the first decoded watermark symbol and the second decoded watermark symbol in response to determining that the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol.

14. A method to transform media into a message, the method comprising:

decoding, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first watermark symbol from a plurality of audio samples;

storing the first decoded watermark symbol in tangible memory;

decoding, by executing the instruction with the processor, a second watermark symbol from the plurality of audio samples;

storing the second decoded watermark symbol in the tangible memory;

determining that a first condition is satisfied when the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol;

determining that a second condition is satisfied when a number of audio samples between a first one of the plurality of audio samples associated with a start of the first decoded watermark symbol and a second one of the plurality of audio samples associated with a start of the second decoded watermark symbol corresponds to a time duration that is a multiple of a period corresponding to a watermark symbol encoding repetition rate; and

outputting the first decoded watermark symbol in response to a determination that the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the first decoded watermark symbol and the second decoded watermark symbol are stored in a stack in the tangible memory.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 , further including popping the first decoded watermark symbol from the stack in response to determining that the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol.

17. The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein the first decoded watermark symbol is from a first set of the plurality of audio samples starting with the first one of the plurality of audio samples and the second decoded watermark symbol is from a second set of the plurality of audio samples starting with the second one of the plurality of audio samples different from the first one of the plurality of audio samples.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 , further including calculating the number of audio samples between the first one of the plurality of audio samples and the second one of the plurality of audio samples.

19. The method as defined in claim 14 , further including validating the first decoded watermark symbol and the second decoded watermark symbol in response to determining that the first decoded watermark symbol matches the second decoded watermark symbol.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2018
From: SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL; TOPCHY, ALEXANDER PAVLOVICH
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 047637/0881 →